The role requires a strategic thinker with strong leadership, stakeholder management, and operational expertise, who can lead the charge in making MTN a leading advocate for local enterprise development within the telecommunications industry.

We at MTN are a purpose and value-led organization. At MTN, we believe that understanding our people’s needs and aspirations is key to creating experiences that delight you at work, every day. We are committed to fostering an environment where every member of our Y’ello Family is heard, understood and empowered to live an inspired life.  

Our values keep us grounded and moving in the right direction. Most importantly, they keep us honest. It is not something we claim to be. It is in our DNA. 

As an organisation, we consider it our mission to create an exciting and rewarding place to work, where our people can be themselves, thrive in positivity and ignite their full potential. A workplace that boosts creativity and innovation, improves productivity, and ultimately drives meaningful results. A workplace that is built on relationships and achieving a purpose that is bigger than us. This is what we want you to experience with us! 

Our commitments go beyond an organisational promise. It is in our leadership and managerial ethos to meaningfully partner with our employees, customers and stakeholders with a vision to realise our shared goals.

Live Y’ello 

• Lead with Care 
• Can-do with Integrity 
• Collaborate with Agility 
• Serve with Respect 
• Act with Inclusion 

The urgency for change has become more heightened amidst increased competitive intensity across all markets in which MTN operates. The Group’s Sustainability function under which this role falls must therefore ensure the successful delivery in the context of:

• Rapidly changing ICT environment
• Complex and rapid evolution of technology and regulation 
• Macro-social and political climate intricacies of our operating environment 
• The geographic complexity of MTN’s footprint across Africa and the Middle East
• Need to balance the rights of various stakeholder groups against each other
• Respond to increasing pressure to integrate ESG into business strategy 
• Growing pressure from stakeholders for greater transparency and disclosure
• Evolving ESG international standards developments  
• Interdependencies between public and private sector 
• Management of customer and stakeholder expectations across all 19 markets and aligning them to MTN’s strategy, objectives, and plans 
• Need to continuously innovate the way business is conducted
• Dynamic and fast changing organisational requirements

trategic Leadership for Local Content Strategy:

• Lead the development and implementation of MTN’s local content strategy across various markets, aligning it with MTN’s corporate goals and long-term vision for sustainable growth.
• Develop a clear roadmap to promote enterprise development and supplier capacity-building, ensuring local businesses can effectively compete for MTN’s procurement opportunities.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to ensure local content initiatives support MTN’s broader ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and sustainability objectives.

Enterprise Development and Capacity Building:

• Oversee the identification and scaling of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and diverse suppliers, providing them with the tools and support needed to meet MTN’s quality, cost, and delivery expectations.
• Foster relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, industry bodies, and business development organizations, to create an enabling environment for local businesses.
• Design and manage training, mentorship, and capacity-building programs to help local suppliers strengthen their operational capabilities, enhance their competitiveness, and meet MTN’s procurement requirements.

Supplier Development and Transformation:

• Work closely with MTN’s procurement and supply chain teams to identify strategic opportunities for local suppliers, ensuring that diverse businesses are incorporated into MTN’s supply chain.
• Lead the implementation of programs aimed at transforming and developing suppliers, with a specific focus on empowering minority-owned, women-owned, and other underrepresented suppliers to participate in MTN’s procurement processes.
• Provide mentorship and support to local suppliers on business management, financial capacity, quality assurance, and operational efficiencies, ensuring they are well-positioned to succeed in competitive tenders.

Driving Innovation and Sustainable Growth:

• Lead the promotion of innovation and sustainable practices within the supply chain, encouraging local suppliers to develop and adopt new technologies and processes that contribute to MTN’s business goals.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, market changes, and technological advancements, and ensure that MTN’s local content strategy incorporates innovative solutions that drive long-term value for local economies.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration:

• Develop and manage strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including the procurement, legal, finance, sustainability, and corporate affairs teams, to align local content and supplier development initiatives with MTN’s corporate objectives.
• Engage with external stakeholders such as industry associations, chambers of commerce, government agencies, and international organizations to drive local content policies and ensure compliance with local regulations.
• Act as the primary point of contact for local suppliers, offering guidance and support to navigate MTN’s procurement processes and ensuring that supplier relationships are managed effectively.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Impact Assessment:

• Implement mechanisms to track and report on the progress and success of MTN’s local content initiatives, ensuring alignment with key performance indicators (KPIs) and ESG targets.
• Regularly assess the effectiveness of enterprise development and supplier programs, ensuring that measurable outcomes such as job creation, supplier growth, and community impact are achieved.
• Provide timely, accurate, and insightful reports to senior leadership and key stakeholders on the status of local content development and supplier transformation efforts.

Creating a Culture of Inclusion and Empowerment:

• Champion MTN’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by embedding these principles within the ESD strategy and fostering a culture that supports local enterprise growth and supplier diversification.
• Ensure that MTN’s procurement policies reflect inclusive practices, with a focus on engaging historically disadvantaged groups, women, youth, and people with disabilities.
• Celebrate and recognize local supplier successes, creating opportunities for MTN to showcase the achievements of its local business partners.

Celebrating Milestones & Recognizing Supplier Contributions:

• Regularly celebrate milestones and successes within MTN’s supply chain sustainability journey, highlighting supplier achievements and contributions to the company’s overall ESG goals.
• Create recognition programs to incentivize suppliers to continuously improve their sustainability performance and to demonstrate MTN’s commitment to partnership and collaboration.

Education:

• 4 year Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Economics, or a related field. 
• A Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), or equivalent advanced qualifications in sustainable development, procurement, or supply chain management is highly desirable.
• Relevant certification / accreditation / membership with professional body as required for role.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 – 8 years of experience in supply chain management, enterprise development, or supplier relations, with a focus on local content and supplier diversity.
• Proven experience in leading enterprise and supplier development initiatives in emerging markets, with a track record of empowering SMEs and local suppliers to succeed in competitive environments.
• Strong understanding of local content policies and regulations across diverse markets, including Africa, the Middle East, and other MTN operating regions.
• Experience in driving collaborative partnerships with government bodies, industry associations, and NGOs to foster local business growth.
• associations, and NGOs to foster local business growth.

Key Skills & Competencies:

• Strong strategic thinking and leadership abilities, with a deep understanding of enterprise development, supply chain sustainability, and local content policies.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior leadership, suppliers, and external stakeholders across a variety of cultural contexts.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Knowledge of procurement and supply chain best practices, particularly in relation to local content, supplier transformation, and social impact.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts in an accessible and persuasive manner.

Key Attributes:

• Visionary Leader: You are a forward-thinking leader who can craft a compelling vision for local content development and inspire others to drive positive change within their communities.
• Passionate Advocate: You are a passionate advocate for inclusive economic growth and supplier diversity, committed to ensuring that local suppliers can thrive and contribute to MTN’s business success.
• Results-Driven: You are focused on achieving measurable outcomes, ensuring that your efforts create lasting economic impact, foster supplier growth, and meet MTN’s strategic objectives.
• Collaborative Change Agent: You thrive in a collaborative environment, working seamlessly with internal and external stakeholders to drive long-term value for MTN and the communities in which it operates.

Other:

• Regional and international travel may be required
• Fluent in English. Ability to communicate in French and other African languages would be advantageous

Responsibility towards: 

• Key customers: Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, General Manager: Sustainability & Shared Value, Global Sourcing and Supply Chain. Opco CEOs, Opco Head of Corporate Services and Sustainability representatives, Group Functions, and business areas, and MTN’s other stakeholders.
• Key suppliers: Sustainability Consulting Firms, Environmental Agencies, Reporting Firms, UN and formally registered Bodies, Supply Chain organisations and Research Agencies